Thrissur Pooram Festival 2025: Celebrating Unity In Diversity!

People celebrate the Thrissur Pooram Festival with huge pomp and show in Kerala. This festival reflects Kerala’s cultural diversity and is celebrated annually. Let us learn more interesting details of the Thrissur Pooram Festival 2025 to bring forth a festive mood!

Thrissur Pooram Festival 2025 Dates and Timings 

• Thrissur Pooram 2025 Date: May 07, 2025 (Wednesday) 
• Venue: Vaakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur District, Kerala 
• Pooram Nakshathram Begins: 03:52 PM on May 06, Tuesday, 2025
• Pooram Nakshathram Ends: 06:04 PM on May 07, 2025

What is the Thrissur Pooram Festival? 

The term Thrissur Pooram comprises two words, ‘Thrissur’, which means the city of Kerala where the festival takes place and ‘Pooram’, which means temple festival. Thrissur Pooram is a prominent and grand Hindu festival celebrated in April or May every year. The Malayalam calendar celebrates it on Pooram when the full moon is in transit through the Purva Phalguni or Pooram Nakshatra.  

• Significance of the Thrissur Pooram Festival 

It marks the unity between the people of Kerala, who come together to celebrate the festival. It’s one of the most significant gatherings on the continent of Asia. The festival celebrates the temple’s unity, and devotees worship Lord Shiva, the Vaakkunathan Temple’s main deity. Its celebration began 200 years ago, during the era of the ruler of the kingdom of Cochin, Shakthan Thampuran. People worldwide witness this festival’s beauty and have excellent experiences.

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History behind the celebration of Thrissur Pooram

People did not celebrate the Thrissur Pooram festival during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was during the time of King Raja Rama Verma, who ruled over the kingdom of Cochin. He initiated the celebration of Arattupuzha Pooram and made it the only Pooram festival in the region. 

• Heavy Rainful During Thrissur Pooram

However, during the celebration of Arattupuzha Pooram, the people of Thrissur were late due to heavy rainfall. Individuals couldn’t celebrate festivals when they reached the venue. All the people were angry and disappointed and thus asked for justice from King Raja Rama Verma. 

• How Was the Festival Started?

King Raja Rama suggested the people of Thrissur celebrate their festival in their region by listening to the people of the place. He asked the people of Thrissur to bring all the dieties of nearby ten temples to Vadakkunnathan Thrissur Pooram temple and celebrate their temple festival. It is how the origin of Thrissur Pooram started, and it turned out to be the most massive and beautiful celebration. 

• History Behind Representing Elephants on this Day

Another history of the festival Thrissur pooram is related to the history of elephants. People chose more than 50 elephants, which represent not only this divine festival but also the cultural heritage of Kerala. The elephants play a significant role in the Kudamattom ceremony, which has two rows comprising 15 elephants who stand face to face and show the designed parasols (umbrellas) one after the other.

• The Age-Old Traditions of Thrissur Pooram

People traditionally represent more than 15 elephants in the smaller temples, and 15 elephants are reserved for the main temples, Thiruvambaddy and Paramekkavu. They also check the height and weight of the elephants participating in the festival. This is an honour for the elephant owners who participate in the festival. People reveal the final selection of animals three days before the festival, which continues as an age-old tradition. 

Why is the Thrissur Pooram Festival Celebrated? 

Some of the essential factors that make the festival of Thrissur Pooram more significant and splendid are: 

• People celebrate the festival in the Vadakkunnathan Temple, where they gather from nearby villages and bring their dieties. It is a way to pay homage to Lord Shiva and seek blessings for the overall community and the upliftment of the state. 
• The unity between the people who celebrate this festival makes it auspicious and grand. All neighbourhood natives join the celebration, where they meet and build a vast community.
• Artists take part in various cultural shows during the festival. Many cultural shows are presented, as well as fireworks (Vedikkettu), elephant parades, and musical festivals (Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam) that represent and showcase the beauty of Kerela. 
• Thrissur Pooram is the most extensive festival with huge gatherings; almost everyone worldwide comes to witness it. This makes it an attractive tourist destination where people get a glimpse of cultural beauty. 

 Rituals and Celebrations of Thrissur Pooram Festival 2025

When you visit the Thrissur Pooram temple festival, you can witness many cultural shows and other activities that make the festival successful and extravagant. So, let’s take a look. 

1. Kodiyettam (Flag Hoisting) 

The celebration starts with flag hoisting, which takes place seven days before the festival. This flag-hoisting ceremony, known as the Kodiyettam, announces the beginning of Thrissur Pooram.

2. Poora Vilambaram (Opening the door of Vadakkunnathan temple) 

The second celebration is the Poora Vilambaram, when the decorated elephant pushes the south entrance gate of the Vadakkunnathan temple. This ceremony occurs while the elephant carries Neithilakkavilamma, the idol, on its back. 

3. Vedikettu: First Round of Fireworks

Natives present the first round of fireworks as a rehearsal on the fourth day of the Pooram festival. People perform the fireworks for one hour, which represents five temples each. 

4. Caparisoned Elephants 

The elephant owners beautifully decorate the elephants with gold ornaments and flowers. This is the most attractive show, where over 50 elephants stand in a parade line to showcase their talents and creativity. 

5. Kudamattom (Exchange of Umbrellas) 

The primary activity witnessed during the Thrissur festival is exchanging umbrellas between the two temples. This is a fun and competitive event where natives of different temples represent their beautifully decorated umbrellas.

People spend a vast amount of money and time designing umbrellas. Also, the fascinating thing is that new umbrellas are made from scratch every year, showcasing people’s competitive nature. 

6. Main Pooram celebrations

The devotees celebrate the main festival on the sixth day with grand processions from all ten temples, which converge at the Vadakunnathan Temple. People participate in the grand assembly, where large processions come, and music is played. On this day, people pay homage to Shiva.

7. Ilanjithara Melam (Musical Show) 

The Ilanjithara Melam and Panchavadyam start early in the morning when almost 200 music artists come to participate in this huge festival. The artists’ performances take place at the Ilanji tree in Vadakkunnathan temple. People worldwide come to witness the talent and art of musicians representing the culture of Kerela. 

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8. Pakal Vedikkettu (Final Round of Firework) 

People see the final round of the fire show on the seventh day of Thrissur Pooram. It’s the final round of the fire show, where the temples Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu compete. The show lasts for many hours, and the sky looks beautiful with bright colours and fireworks, adding excitement and energy to the festival. This round marks the end of the Thrissur Pooram festival. 

9. Punacharam Cholli Piriyal (Closing Ceremony) 

People bring ten respective dieties from nearby temples, which are decorated and sent back with massive fireworks; elephants, music, and dance accompany these. This is how the Thrissur Pooram festival gets over. It is also known as Koodikazcha. This is how devotees complete all the rituals and ceremonies of Thrissur Pooram.

Frequently Asked Questions  

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